ISLAMABAD : July 21, 2022. The Shahbaz government on Thursday appointed former director general Intelligence Bureau (IB) as chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The federal cabinet which met here on Thursday with prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif in the chair granted approval for appointment of former director general IB Aftab Sultan as NAB chairman.
A formal notification of Aftab Sultan’s appointment of NAB chairman has also been issued here.
Aftab Sultan has been IB chief for three years in Nawaz Sharif last tenure. He was considered the most trustworthy of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz supermo , Mian Nawaz Sharif
The post of NAB chairman was vacant since April last when Justice (R) Javed Iqbal had completed his tenure and the incumbent government had refused to extend his tenure as NAB chairman for another term .
Since NAB chairman is a constitutional position , the prime minister and opposition leader in the national assembly are required to have consensus on a name for appointment of NAB chairman for three years term.
Interestingly, when the federal cabinet accorded approval for appointment of Aftab Sultan , as NAB chairman , he was among the list of accused in a corruption reference.
An official handout of NAB issued on October 20, 2022 clearly mentioned name of Aftab Sultan among the accused in a reference of misuse of power by the accused by buying bullet proof cars in the name of security to the dignitaries but in fact these luxurious bullet proof vehicles were provided to the close friends and some unauthorized persons on the direction of then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.
The appointment of an accused as NAB chairman by Shahbaz government suggested how much significance the ruling elite gives to the law when they come to oblige their trustworthy like former director general IB Aftab Sultan.